Bleeding Yankee Blue: 3 GOALS FOR CASHMAN AT THE WINTER MEETINGS...

Sunday, December 4, 2016

3 GOALS FOR CASHMAN AT THE WINTER MEETINGS...

And we have them right here at Bleeding Yankee Blue. Thanks for joining us this morning...

Source: CHRISTIAN RED/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

We have been previewing the MLB Winter Meetings over the last week with much of the discussion centered around protecting our farm while shopping for big arms and big bats. This year's Meetings tout the biggest free agents in history and with the Meetings about to begin, the New York Post is reporting that Brian Cashman has three goals for this year's meetings and it will be interesting to watch and see if he achieves these.

Source: AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

Goal 1: Land a DH- This has been a priority from the start and with Houston's signing of Carlos Beltran on Saturday, the market is down one prospect that the Yankees could afford without giving away the bank. Recall that the Chicago Cubs were able to sign free agent Ben Zobrist for an affordable price that paid big dividends as the veteran outfielder earned MVP honors in this year's World Series victory. Now, among those available, we are left with a very expensive Edwin Encarnacion and a more affordable Matt Holliday, who I believe could be a 'Zobrist' for the Yankees. "Holliday isn’t be looked at by the Yankees as a left-field possibility. He is considered a DH at this point with the possibility of playing some first base, a position at which he has played just 10 games in the big leagues," reported the Post on Saturday. In 2016, Holliday played a total of 110 games with 382 AB, .246 BA, 20 HR and 62 RBIs. He could definitely be a worthy DH for us following the departure of Brian McCann.

Source: CBS New York - CBS Local

Goal 2: Decide how much Aroldis Chapman is truly worth and take action- Hmmm...I am not a fan of Chapman but he was a huge reason for the Cubs' Playoff and eventual World Series win. I also think the way Joe Maddon managed him was also a huge factor in Chapman's success. According to Fox Sports' interview with Maddon at the Yogi Berra Museum this week, Maddon stated with confidence that because of the way the pitching staff worked him at the end of the season, Chapman was more than ready for the challenge he would face in the playoffs. "We thought by the time we got to the end, that’s what he (Chapman) was there for, man. He was there to be that horse. He’d come in and have conversations all the time in my office. We’d talk through this before every game. What are you capable of? What can you do? What can you not do? The conversation was pretty much going on throughout the entire playoffs."

Source: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

Goal 3: What would the clubs offer for veteran outfielder Brett Gardner- I'm not happy about this goal at all. I believe Brett Gardner brings more to the team than speed, continuity and longevity. He brings leadership, mentorship and a club house presence that is invaluable. But according to the Post, the teams will offer and the Yankees will listen. I believe that there is no replacement for Gardner because his contribution is too many layers thick for any price tag.

The Winter Meetings begin today and end on Thursday, December 8th. There's a lot at stake and I am hopeful that the Yankees and Cashman score a win-win without giving away the farm or veteran players that are a mainstay for the culture and future of our team.